Electric switch



y 14, 1931 v c. F. CARPENTER p y ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 27, 1928 Inventor: Charles Ficawpenta';

H Es Attomw ey.

Patented July 14, 1931 cnanmis r. CARPENTER, or scnnnnc'ran'r, nnw rerun, nssrsnon no time nanomare comm, A; cosronnrron or new roan nnnc'rnrc swrrcn Application men April e7, ieaa. serial Ho. eraavv.

My invention relates. to electric switches, more particularly to reversing switches, and has .for its object the provision of an operating mechanism therefor, which is of simple construction, and durable, effective and convenient in operation.-

Where motors are frequently reversed, reversing switches are provided ,as a part of the motor controller in order that the direction of rotation of the motor may be reversed as desired. Such reversing switches are provided with a set of forward'contacts which when interenga ed permit a flow of current in the proper irectionjtor forward motion of the motor, and with a set of reverse contacts which when interengaged permit-a flow of current in the proper direction for reverse motion of the motor. Although-such reversing switches may be manually operated, frequently power actuated means, as for example, electromagnets are provided for operating theswitch, particuv ire uent reversing also in those rises and larly in'those cases where of the motor is necessary an cases where the reversing switch com a number of contacts-for both forwar reverse motion.

In either the case of manual operation or that of power operation it is very necessary when either'setof contacts has been moved into engagement that they in that position until it is desired to stop the motor..

ating means b employed merely to move the contacts intp engagementand that suitable locking means he provided for holding them in engagement after they have been so moved. My invention therefore contemplates thev provision of locking means for a reversing switch which operates to securely maintain either set of the switch contacts in engagement after they have been so moved by the actuating means. Y I

In carrying my invention into efiect in one form thereof, I provide a latch operably associated with the moving contacts so that when they have been moved into engagement wit their correspondin stationary contacts they are positively loc ed in their engaging position untilthe latch has been rebe securely held Thus, it is desirable that the operleased. vll further provide releasing means for the latch so that the contacts may be disengaged. I H

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticrepresentation of a power actuated reversing switch provided with latching means in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detailed view of portions of the power actuating and latchmeans. Y Y

till

%eilierring to the drawings, 1 have shown my invention in one form as applied to, a power actuated reversing switch for reversing the direction of motion of an alternating current rnotor. As shown, a suitable reversing switch 10 is provided for provided reversing the current flow from the source 11 through the alternating current motor 12 so that its direction of rotation may be reversed. The reversing-switch 10 comprises three to'rward stationary. contacts 13 and three reversestationary contacts 14. Suitable movable contacts 13aand14a are provided for cooperating with the stationary contacts 13 and 14, respectively, whereby the current may be caused to flow in either one direction or the other, as desired. The movable contacts 130. and 14aare mounted upon a. rotatable shait v15, suitable 0 rat ng means being provided for causing ,t e shaft 15- to rotate in one as to cause interengagement of either set of contacts. a a

A shaft 16 is mounted in suitable relation to the shaft 15 and operating connecting means between the shafts 15 and16; are provided whereb ,when rotatable motion is impartedto t e shaft 16 rotatable motion will likewise direction or the other so be transmitted to the shaft 15.

To effect this transmission of motion, the shaft 16- is provided with a bell crank 17 onearm 17a of which is connected by means a rigid. arm 19 projecting of a link 18 to from the shaft 15. Any suitable means,

either manually or power actuated, may be provided for; causingthe shaft 16 to rotate in one directionor the other, as desired. As shown, electromagnets are pro ided for this purpose, the forwerd-electromegnet, thet the magnet for operating the reversing switch to cause the forward contectors it end its to interengsge is designated by the ordinal 2d and the reversing electromeg'net; that is the magnet for csusing the reverse 'contsctors 14 and Me to interengsge, is

face 27. provided on. the rocker tions, r

' abutment 823, the abutment 32 (iii the other as the case Thus, it will be observed upon upward motion being imported to either oi the linlzs 23, the rocker erni end consequently the shaft 16 will-be rotsted in one direction or be, The levers 23 are further provided with projectinglpins 28, which pins 28 upon downward move ment of the lovers engage the ripper coin surfaces 29 of the rocker :22 so that upon downward motion being imported to either of the lovers qtl 'the rockerwill be returned to its-horizontal position,

as shown in the drewing. perlorni the function of weighted erinntures no he pins 28 also support ng the their elevated posihe pins Q8. resting upon their corre sponding coin surfaces 529.. t will be understood that the heirs 28 are moved up'wsrdly by the ermstures a ills when their corresponding electromagnets ere energ sed and thst the propertirnes the linhsilt ere moved downwardly under the influence oi provided on the support tor limiting their down-word movement.

Suitsble letch ng inesns is provided or locking the reel: 22 in either of its extreme 'positi as determined by move ment oi the min-stores since not only must the contacts be held in .mtirnste engagement but the weighted srmstures must be sup ported. 'lhe latching means comprises at latch 30 pivoted-st one end to s stationery pin 31. The latch 30 is provided with en being moved at the proper times into the path of movementot the arm 1% of the bell crank 1'5 for preventing" return movement of the I rocker arm 22 after it has been moved in held in its locking position, shown in l ig.

one direction magnets.

lln order that the latch 30 may be securely or the other by the ciectroa toe weighted srrnotures 2-06; Elle; suitable stops 25a borne the upper end of the toggle being L s stationery pin t will be leerved won the toggle EA is broken as shown in Fig". 1, heir, the latch 39 is in its eleveted position thereby permitting unobstructed nioveinentoi the errn crenlr 38 pivotailiy mounted upon the pin- 39 the other nrrn 385* or the bell crsn 38 being provided with on abutment 0 hich upon movement of the-bell crank 38 e counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l toggle to l3l62tli5 The armature 37a of the electronisgnet 3'? is pivotslly connected to a substantially llshsped member As shown, the upper arm of the "cl-shaped member is pivoted to the sts-tionsry pin 35, while the lower erm of the U-shsped member 42 is od engage the toggle n the e is deenergized whereby the toggle is held in its brolren position under the influence of the weight o the ernieture 8%, It will be observed when the magnet 37 is energized the ill-shaped member 22 wil be swung in e counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in l, whereby its lower arm will be moved ewsy from the toggle end the toggle per-- mitted to elignitselh it will be further oi served that when the electromsgnet 3G is energized the bell crsnlc 38 will be moved in counterclockwise direction as viewed in .Fig. l and toggle will be broken.

A suitable source of current supply is Drovided for the electroniognets ll 2i, 3'? Suitable control means provided whereby the electroinsgnets be energized the proper times. As shown, it suitsble foJVsrd push button 5]. is inserted s circuit including the coil 20?) r3 ml ol -the i orwerd electroniegnet 20, s reversing push'button 52 inserted in circuit with; the coil 21?) of the reversing electroinsgnet 23., and at stop push button 53 is inserted in s, circuit with the coil 36?) of the electromagnet 3t. Suitable control means are provided whereby the coil 37?) of the electromsgnet 37 may be energized so that the toggle 34 may align itself immediately after either ofthe electromagnets 20 or 21 has been energized As shown, it relay contact 54 is o rebly connected to the armature 20a of t o electroinsgnet 20 by means or e rod 55 the contsct 5 L being; provided to close it circuit lron the source release 50 through the coil 37b of the electromagnet of a rod- 58 so that upon energization of.

the electromagnet 21, a circuit is completed from the'source 50 and through the coil 37bof the electromagnet 37.

Thus, should either of'the armatures 200, or 21a be moved to and heldin itsupper position, acircuit through the coil 37?; will be closed and the Y coil energized as long asthe armature isso held, whereb the member l2 will be withheld from t e path of ,rnovement of the toggle 34:.

The rod is further provided with a con.- tact for makingand breaking a circuit from one side of the'source 50 through the coil 21b of the electromagnet 21, and likewise the rod 58 is provided with a contact 61 for makin and breaking a. circuit from one side of tie source 50 through the coil 20?) of the electromagnet 20. Thus, when either of the electromagnets 20 or 21 is energized, the contacts 66 or 61, asthe case may be, will be elevated so that it is impossible 'tocomplete the circuit through the other of the electromagnets by depressing its corresponding push button 51 or 52, thereby rendering it impossible to have both of the electromagnets energized at the same instant. It will be observed that upward movement-oi the armature of either of the actuating electromagnets 20 or 21 performs three functions, that of causing interengagement of either the forward or reverse switch contacts,.that of completing a circuit through the coil 3750i theelectroinagnet 37, and that of preventing energization of the other actuating electromagnet.

The operation of the reversing switch is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in their positions as shown in 1, it will be ohserved that the reversing switch 10 is in its neutral position, neither the forward orthe reversing contacts being in engagement. It will be iurther observed that the toggle 34: is held in its lirolren position and the latch 30 is elevated since the electrornagnet 3'2 is deenergized. Thus, unobstructed movement of the bell crank 1'5, and consequently of the rocker arm 22, is possible. Assuming that it is desired tooperate the rnotor l2 in a forward direction, the forward push button 51 is depressed, thereby completing a circuit from one side of the source 50 through the push but" ton 51, the contacts 61, and the coil 20?) of the electromagnet 20 back to the other side of the source. The armature 20a of the electromagnet 20 will then. be raised to its upward position, pulling the link 23 upwardly with it. As the link 23 so moves, the roller 2% engages the cam surface 2'? of the roclrer arm 22, thereby moving the arm 22, the shaft 16 and the bell cranlr 17 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 1. As the bell crank 17 so moves, the shaft 15 is likewise moved and the movable contacts 13a are moved into engagement with their station-- ary contacts 13, whereby the motor is energized to run in a forward direction. W hen the armature 20a has moved completely to its upper position, the arm 17b of the bell crank 17 will be moved to a point at which when the latch-30is allowed to move to its lower position it will be locked against return movement by the abutment .32; the contact 5% will complete the circuit from the source 50 through the coil 37?) of the electromagnet 37 whereby the toggle is permitted to align itself and the latch30 is moved into its locking position; and the contact 60 will be elevated whereby it will be impossible to energize the reverse electromagnet 21. Thus it will be observed that it is only necessary to temporarily depress the button 51 to cause the forward contactors 13 and 18a: to be moved into engagement with each other; to cause the latch 30 to be moved into its locking position; and to prevent any possible attempt to complete a circuit from the source 50 and through the electromagnet 21 Should itbe desired to stop the motor 12, the stop push'button 53-is depressed, thereby completing a circuit from one side of the source 50, through the button 53 and the coil 36b of the electromagnet 36 to the other side of the source 50 whereby the armature 36d 3 is raised to its upward position and the bell crank 38 swung about its stationary pivot to break the toggle. As soon as the toggle is broken and latch 30 raised so that the abutment 32 is moved upwardly out of the path of movement of the arm 17?; of the bell crank l7, the rocker arm 22 will be moved under the influence oi the weighted armature 20a to its horizontal position, shown in Fi 1 since the oin 28 carried in the link tures 20o or 21o but also by centering device.

The operation of the switch mechanism force-using reverse motion of the motor 12 is identical with that described for causing forward motion. Upon ushing the button '52 a circuit is completed t rough the coil 21?) or the electromagnet 21 and the armature 21a and its connected link i23 are moved uplocked in its extreme reverse position by the abutment 32 until the stop push button 53 is again depressed and the toggle 34 broken; the electromagnet 37 will be energized so that the member -42 will be withheld from the toggle 34; .and the contact 61 will be raised to a position whereby any attempt to tionary contacts, two sets of movable conand complete a circuit through the forward electromagnet 20 will be defeated.

While Ihave described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto since various modifies, tions thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A switch comprising two sets of stationary contacts, two sets of normally 0 en movable contacts for cooperating therewith, opprating means connected to said contacts w ereby either of said sets may be moved into interengagement, a latch operably connected to said movable contacts so as to lock either set thereof in its position of inter engagement with the stationary contacts,

releasin means for either of said contacts operab y' connected to. said latch.

2. A switch comprising a pair-of cooperating contacts, operating means connected to said contacts whereby said contacts ma be moved into interengagement, a late adapted to lock said operating means whereby when said contacts have been moved into 'interengagement' return movement thereof is prevented, and means connected to said latch normally 'm'aintaining said latch in an nnlockingposition to prevent unobstructed movement of said operating means, said means being responsive to the movement of said operating means so as to cause saidlatch to move into its loch ing position after said interengagement has been efiected.

3. A switch comprising two sets of statacts for cooperating therewith mounted upon a common supporting member, actusting means. for said member whereby either set of 'said movable contacts may be caused to interengage its corresponding set of Sta 'tionary contacts, a latch'operably associated with said member forlocking. said member in position after 'interengagement of either of said sets has been effected, and releasing means for said latch so as to permit disengagement of said contacts.

4. A switch comprising a pair of oppositely disposed stationary contacts, a pair of normally open movable contacts for co- 0 crating therewith, actuating means opera ly' connected to said movable contacts for causing interengagement of either of'said movable contacts with its stationar contact, a latch operably associated wit said operable connections for locking said connections in position after-said interengagement of either of said movable contacts with its stationa contact has been effected so as to prevent disengagement of said contacts, and releasing means for said latch so as to permit disengagement of said contacts. v

5. A switch comprising a pair of cooperating contacts, operating means connected to said contacts whereby said contacts may be moved. into interen gagement, a latch adapted to lock said operating means whereby when said contacts have been moved into interengagement returnmovement thereof is prevented, and an electromagnet operably connected to said latch and normally maintaining said latch in an unlocking position .to prevent unobstructed movement of said operating means, said electro-. ma et being responsive to the movement of sai operating means so as to cause said latch-to move into its locking position after said interen agement has been efiected.

- 6. A switc comprising two sets of co operating contacts, actuating means operably connected to said contacts whereby either set of contacts may be moved into interengagement, a latch for cooperating with said operable connections whereby when either set of said contacts has been moved into interengagement said actuating vmeansisloclred so as to prevent disengagement' of said contacts, a toggle operably connected to said latch, and means connected to said to gle normally maintainin said tog la in rgleased position so as-to hold said late in an unlocking position with respect to said operable connections, said means bein'g responsive to the movement of said actuating means whereby when intercngagement of said contacts has been effected said toggle is released to allow said latch to move into its locking position.

7. A switch comprising two sets of cooperating contacts, actuating electromagnets operably connected to said contacts whereby either set of contacts may be moved into interengagement, a latch for cooperatmg with said operable connections whereby when either set of said contacts has been moved into interengagement said operable connections are locked so as to prevent disengagement of said contacts, a tog 1e 0 er-- ab y connected to said'latch whereby w on aeiasae said toggle is released said latch is held in an unlocking position, and an electromagnet connected to said toggle normally deenergized so as to maintain said toggle in its released position, said electromagnet being responsive to movement of the armatures of said actuating magnets whereby when interengagement of said contacts has been effected said electromagnet is energized so as to permit said toggle to move said latch into its locking position.

8. An electric switch comprising two sets of stationary contacts, two sets of movable contacts for cooperating therewith, a rocker shaft operably connected to said movable contacts whereby upon movement of said shaft in one direction from its neutral position one set of movable contacts is moved into engagement with their stationary contacts and upon movement of said shaft in the other direction from its neutral position the other set of said movable contacts is moved into engagement with their stationary contacts, an arm rigidly mounted upon said shaft, latching mechanism comprising a latch provided with an abutment for c0- operating with said arm whereby when said shaft has been moved in either direction to cause interengagement of one set of said contacts said abutment is moved into the path of movement of said arm to prevent return movement of the shaft and said movable contacts, and means for releasing said latchin mechanism to permit return movement of said contacts.

9. A reversing switch for an electric motor comprising a plurality of cooperating contacts for establishing forward and reverse connections, an operating shaft for said contacts, a rocker arm, operable connections between said rocker arm and said shaft whereby upon motion of saidarm in one direction from a neutral position said shaft is moved to establish forward connections and upon movement of said arm in the other direction from a neutral position-said shaft is moved to establish reverse connections, means for operating said shaft in either direction, as desired, a latch cooperating with said operable connections for locking said contacts in position when moved to establish either the forward or the reverse connections, and means for releasing said latch to permit disengagement of said contacts.

10. A reversing switch for an electric motor comprising a plurality of cooperating contacts for establishing forward and reverse connections, a shaft, a rocker arm rigidly mounted on said shaft and operably connected to said contacts whereby upon motion of said arm in one direction from its neutral position said forward connections are established and upon motion of said arm in the other direction from its neutral position said reverse connections are established, an arm rigidly mounted on said shaft, a latch provided with an abutment cooperating with said arm whereby upon movement of said rocker arm in either direction to a position to establish either forward or reverse connections said abutment is moved into the path of movement of said arm so that said arm, rocker arm and contacts are locked in their contact closing positions, a toggle associated with said latch for locking said latch in said contact closing position, and means for breaking said toggle so as. to release said latch to permit said contacts to break said connections.

11. in combination, a switch member movable between a plurality of positions, means for selectively operating said switch member each way from one position to other positions, locking means including a movable latch for maintaining said switch member in either of said other positions independently of said operating means, and means for controlling said latch so that said latch normalty is maintained in its unlocking position to permit-movement of said switch memher from said one to either of said other positions and is operated responsively to the operation of said operating member so as to lock said switch member in either of its other positions after said switch member has been moved to said other position.

12. A switch comprising two sets of coopcrating contacts, actuating means operably connected to said contacts whereby either set of contacts may be moved into interengagement, a latch for cooperating with said operable connections whereby when either set of said contacts has been moved into interengagement, said operating means is locked so as to prevent disengagement of said contacts, a toggle operably connected to said latch, means connected to said toggle normally maintaining it in released position so as to hold said latch in an unlocking position with respect to said operable connections, said means being responsive to the movement of said actuating means whereby, when interengagement of said contacts has been effected, said toggle is released to allow said latch to move to its locking position, and means for moving said toggle to a position to hold said latch in its unlocking position.

In combination, a switch member movable between a plurality of positions, electrically controlled means for selectively operating the member each way from one position to other positions, electrically controlled means including a movable latch for maintaining said member in either of said other positions independently of the operating means, and manually controllable electroresponsive means for releasing said latch.

14. in combination, a movable switch till) rneinloer loieseol to o position intermediate two other positions, eleetroresponsive rneens for selectively operating the member each way from said hissed position to n corresponding one or said other positions and on electrically controlleol latch for holding the member in either of said other positions independently oi the operating means. 15. In eomloinetion e rnovolole switch member loiosecl to at position intermediate tWo other positions, electroresponsive means for selectively operating the member each Way from snicl loiosecl position to n correspending one of seiel other positions, an electrically controlled latch for holcling the member in either of said other positions inolepentlently of the operating means and releasing means for seicl latch;

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my honol this 26th eley of April, 1928. 

